OPP name motorcyclist killed in air mattress crash
The name of a 55-year-old Fort Erie motorcyclist who was killed trying to avoid an air mattress on Highway 406 Friday night has been released by police. Donald Pidgeon was riding with a group of motorcyclists when an inflatable mattress, that was inflated, came unattached from a vehicle driving in front of them, Ontario Provincial Police said.
The first motorcyclist tried to avoid the mattress and went around it.
The second motorcyclist, Pidgeon with a female passenger, hit the mattress and both were thrown from the bike. Pidgeon was pronounced dead at the scene.
A third motorcyclist with a female passenger tried to avoid the downed bike, but both he and his passenger went down as well.
Four Niagara Emergency Medical Services ambulances were dispatched to the crash, which occurred at 9:40 p.m. on the northbound lane between East Main Street and Woodlawn Road. Four fire trucks and nine firefighters responded to the crash.
The highway was closed by Ontario Provincial Police until about 3 a.m. Saturday.
OPP continue to investigate the crash and are seeking witnesses to identify the driver of the vehicle which lost the mattress.
Witnesses can contact Const. Dave Haywood at the Niagara OPP detachment at 905-356-1311. Pidgeon is survived by wife Tina, four children and three stepchildren. Family will welcome friends at Benner Funeral Services in Fort Erie Saturday from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.
— with files from Dave Johnson mallenberg@postmedia.com